Since fish seeds are being reared for sale in Ansur tank, fishermen have demanded that action should be taken to stop a diesel boat from being operated in the tank since their livelihood will be affected.
Coimbatore: Fishermen have demanded that the Corporation should consider using paddle boats instead of running diesel engine boats at Ansur tank in Velliangadu area, near Mettupalayam.
The Ansur tank located at Velliangadu in Karamadai Panchayat Union near Mettupalayam has been under the control of the Public Works Department for the past 60 years. The tank receives rainwater from Pillur Dam and the Western Ghats on the Velliangadu-Manjoor road.Due to this, more than 100 farmlands in the surrounding areas receive ground water.
For more than 50 years now, the executives of Mettupalayam Fishermen's Cooperative Society have been rearing and selling fish seeds in Ansurkulam. It has now been reported that the Government is maintaining the tank on behalf of the Government and are operating a diesel boat here. According to the fishermen, if the diesel boat is operated in the pond, the fish seeds in the tank will be affected.
Members of the Mettupalayam Fishermen's Association have thus urged the Government to release a paddle boat instead of a diesel boat, to protect the livelihood of more than 200 fishermen who depend on the industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Meena Nataraj, Director, Mettupalayam Fishermen's Co-operative Society, said, "It is a welcome move to convert this tank into a tourist spot. But there are more than 200 families of fishermen who depend on this tank.The Government should take steps to protect fishing in the pond so that their livelihood is not hampered.
The Ansur tank located at Velliangadu in Karamadai Panchayat Union near Mettupalayam has been under the control of the Public Works Department for the past 60 years. The tank receives rainwater from Pillur Dam and the Western Ghats on the Velliangadu-Manjoor road.Due to this, more than 100 farmlands in the surrounding areas receive ground water.
For more than 50 years now, the executives of Mettupalayam Fishermen's Cooperative Society have been rearing and selling fish seeds in Ansurkulam. It has now been reported that the Government is maintaining the tank on behalf of the Government and are operating a diesel boat here. According to the fishermen, if the diesel boat is operated in the pond, the fish seeds in the tank will be affected.
Members of the Mettupalayam Fishermen's Association have thus urged the Government to release a paddle boat instead of a diesel boat, to protect the livelihood of more than 200 fishermen who depend on the industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Meena Nataraj, Director, Mettupalayam Fishermen's Co-operative Society, said, "It is a welcome move to convert this tank into a tourist spot. But there are more than 200 families of fishermen who depend on this tank.The Government should take steps to protect fishing in the pond so that their livelihood is not hampered.